What’s the point of our being here
Posted on 27 July 2009
Maybe the best way to think about what the point is, is to be alone.
Just feel, see, hear, sense, breathe, hold my breath, blink my eyes.
Just settle into whatever it is to be, without distraction. But
perhaps that’s wrong, because for so long the point seems clearly to
have been to make something of oneself, to grow, to mature, to become
a better person. But who decides what that is? Who finally grades me
on the better person I am turning into and what does that feel like
when I’ve made the grade, or failed? When does it stop? When am I
done? Is that the point, then, to complete the thing as well as
possible? Perhaps to get into the history books, to help improve a
world that is obviously in trouble, is that the point? But what
becomes the point, if at some point, the world is really in great
shape? What’s the point of our being here, then?
Stephen Gyllenhaal
1 Response to What’s the point of our being here
I find it a little bit distressing when people articulate what so many of us (certainly me) are thinking: what is the point? I envy those who have managed to find the answer to this question in religion, though I wonder if they are hedging their bets- none of us can know for certain. But if it leads to a more content way of living, does it actually matter whether they are right or wrong?
I think ‘the point’ is a combination of the personal and the social; one could make great positive change, have a wonderful impact on society, be remembered for all eternity, yet still be utterly unfulfilled. And vice versa. I certainly don’t believe that validation from others (in history books, on TV, from society) results in fulfilment, though most of us fail to separate the two.
It’s like we are incapable of thinking for ourselves now; is the media (including all forms of literature, high brow included) really our conscience, social and personal? Does society provide our personal conscience? It is so difficult when one’s own moral code is in conflict with that of those around us.
Therefore, I think that what ‘the point’ is must be a personal decision, not influenced by the vacuous, materialistic, superficial society in which we live. But how do we reach the answer?
I really admire your honesty with this blog; I hope you realise that people are reading it, and that it does have an impact. I love writing that presents questions & creates dialogue.
I also loved the video with your cat, her expression suggested that she knows something that we don’t! Maybe we will never work out why we are here & what the point it, so we should just enjoy life…